Fence-post.



- 700,43L Patented Ma 20, I902.

- C. LEALI FENCE POST.

(Application filed Dec. 4, 1901.)

(No Model.)

abfozmm UNITED} STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES LEALI, or KINGSLAND, ARKANSAS.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 700,431, dated May20,1902.

Application filed December 4, 1901. 'derial No. 84,679. (No model.) I

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES LEALI, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kingsland, in the county of Cleveland and State of Arkansas,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to metal fence-posts for use with barbed or otherWire fences, and has for its objects to provide a fence of the classdescribed that will be stronger and more noticeable than ordinary wirefences, reasonable in cost of manufacture, and that has integral withthe post means for fastening thereto the line-wires. I attain theseobjects by the structure hereinafter described, and shown in thedrawings, in which Figure l is a portion of a fence, showing my post inposition; Fig. 2, a view in eleva tion of the post, and Fig. 3 across-section through the post.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar reference charactersindicate corresponding parts throughout the several'views, A representsthe post made triangular in cross-section and preferably of Bessemersteel. The lower end of the post is sharpened,as shown at a, tofacilitate driving it into the ground.

B represents barbs formed on eachof the three corners of the post andare intended to receive the line-wires O of the fence and fastening themby bending the points over the wire. Beginning at the ground the firstsix barbs'are placed six inches apart, while the two upper ones arespaced one foot apart. This spacing of the barbs is to provide forfastening the wires closer together near the ground to fence againstsmall stock. The barbs on one corner only of the post are used at onetime, so that when the barbs on one corner of the post are brokenanother corner of the post may be used and the life of the postprolonged three times what it would be if only one set of barbs wereprovided. At the same time if the post be made of a fine quality ofBessemer steel the barbs may be bent away from the wires and the samecorner of the post used a number, of times before its usefulness wouldbe destroyed.

In the use of wire fences it is desirable to provide a broad board Dabove the highest strand of wire, so that quickly-moving stock, such ashorses, may-see the fence, and thus avoid injuring themselves by runninginto the fence. Theboard D is fastened to the top of the post by meansof wire nails driven in and through said board on each side of thecorner of the post and through holes E, drilled in the top of the postnear each corner, the

ends of the nails being bent to hold the board against the corner of thepost.

The purpose of making the post triangular in cross-section is toeconomize the amount of metal necessary to form the post, as well as atthe same time make the post ofa substantial character, its stabilitybeing about equal to a square post having the same width of face, whileits weight is a little more than half the weight of such a square post.

The post being made of solid metal it may be readily understood that itaffords no harbor for vermin, and if occasionally given a coat ofpainter tar its life may be prolonged indefinitely. By having the clipsor barbs for fastening the wires integral with the post it may be seenthat the expense of providing staples or other means for fastening thewires is dispensed with and that the only tool required in fastening thewires to the post is a hammer to bend the barbs over the wires.

The holes E in the top of the post are drilled through the-post at eachside of each corner of the post on aline parallel with a line drawn fromthe corner to the opposite side of the triangle perpendicular to saidside, the holes at each corner being arranged an inch above or below theholes from either of the other corners to prevent weakening the post byhaving the holes crossed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim 'is v 1. In a fence thecombination of a triangular post driven into the ground, having holesdrilled through near its top in pairs on lines parallel to lines markingthe altitude of the triangle from each side thereof, each pair of holesbeing drilled on a different plane from the other pairs of holes, barbsformed integral with each edge of the post adapted to be clenched overthe line-wires of the fence,'and a board fastened to one edge of thepostby means of wire nails passing through said board and holes drilledthrough the top of said post, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a fence, the combination of a post, triangular in cross-section,driven into the ground and having holes drilled through near its top inpairs on lines perpendicular to the opposite side of said post,each pairof holes being drilled on a different plane from the other pairs ofholes, barbs formed integral with each edge of the post to bealternately used 1 to clench the line-Wires of the fence, said barbsbeing closer together near the base of the post, and a board fastened toone edge of the postbyrneans of wire nailspassing through 15 said boardand said holes drilled near the top, said nails being clenched againstsaid post, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my signature in the presence of twoWitnesses.

CHARLES LEALI.

Witnesses:

E. A. GIBSON, J. W. THOMAS.

